Ironman Japan Athletes Offered Qualifying Opportunity

The 50 qualifying slots for the Ford Ironman World Championship, which were previously assigned to Ironman Japan, will now be offered at the Jeju International Triathlon (JIT) taking place on July 11, 2010 on Jeju Island, South Korea. The cancellation of Ironman Japan was due to the host venue's concerns over the spread of foot & mouth disease. The opportunity to race for the Kona slots at the JIT is available to athletes who were originally registered for the Ironman Japan event. Read the story »

Older Stories

2010 Ironman Japan event cancelled

Ironman Japan, slated to take place on June 13, 2010 in Goto-Fukue, Nagasaki, is cancelled. As of yesterday - May 31 - action by the Goto government was implemented due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the southern islands of Japan. Read the story »

Ironman Japan hits record entry

Entries to the tenth anniversary Ironman Japan to be held on Goto Island June 13 has been closed by the race organizers. With a record of over 1,250 entries the race registration has closed seven weeks early for the first time in the race's 10 year history. Read the story »

McKenzie Goes Back-To-Back; Klinger Takes First Title

Australia's Luke McKenzie and Liechtenstein's Nicole Klinger took the titles at Ironman Japan on a warm, yet cloudy, summer's day in the town of Goto-Fukue, Japan. Read the story »

Counting Down To Ironman Japan

If you're traveling to Ironman Japan from abroad it's quite a trek, but the end result is worth it thanks to the warm hospitality of an island community in the south of Japan. The people of Goto-Fukue are proud of playing host to Ironman Japan and line the streets with banners, put posters in every shop front and the volunteers proudly walk around town in their event shirts. Read the story »

McKenzie and Imaizumi Dominate In Japan

While Ironman Japan will be remembered as a day where a new Ironman champion was born and a defending champion confirmed her dominance, the biggest story of the day at the 2008 Ironman Japan event was Australia's Luke McKenzie claiming his first Ironman title. Read the story »

Six Volcanoes, Fifteen Hours: Ironman, Japanese Style

This year marks Ironman Japan's eighth anniversary in Goto-Fukue, a city on the Goto Archipelago of islands just west of Fukuoka and Nagasaki. For over 930 athletes competing at this weekend's event, a taste of the quieter way of Japanese life has greeted them upon arrival. Goto-Fukue is a lot more laid back than to the mainland and has been very welcoming to the visiting Ironman contingent. Read the story »

Hoon And Imaizumi Win In Japan

In the men's race, Japan's Hayoto Kawahara crossed the line here in an emotional second place, followed by fellow countryman Hiroyuki Nishiuchi who finished in third place. Fourth went to early race leader Masayuki Matsumaru, who could not maintain his lead after the bike-to-run transition. Rounding out the top five was Han Seojoo. Read the story »

Konichi Wa: Welcome to Ironman Japan

On Sunday, over 800 athletes will have 15 hours to conquer the island of Fukue in Southern Japan for the chance to call themselves an Ironman. Read the story »

Older Stories >

About the Race

The all-new Ironman Japan made its successful return in 2001 on Fukue Island in the Goto group, just south of Nagasaki. Fukue is a volcanic island and it provides a most challenging course, with a bike leg that may tame the toughest competitors.

Competitors will swim from an amazing beach, some 20kms from the final finish of the race.

They will then bike a course that's being eulogized as a tough, no holds barred Euro-type course, with even a mini-version of the Alp D'huez included! The bike course heads from the swim, back to Fukue, around one of five long extinct volcanoes, then continues circumnavigating the island, which is far from flat!

The run course goes two laps of the local airport at sea level, but becomes undulating as it too 'runs' around Mt Oni volcano. Eventually competitors arrive at the finish in the center of town and the old traditional fort, which was built to defend the town against the American 'Black ships' in the mid-1800s. It took 50,000 workers 15 years to build it!

Pre-Order the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship DVD

Pre-Order Price: $19.95

Along with a stellar professional field, approximately 1,850 age group athletes attempted to complete the world's most challenging endurance event and hear the words "You are an Ironman" at the 2011 Ford Ironman World Championship.

For the first time ever, enjoy DVD extras that take you inside the minds of the sport's greatest athletes. Interviews include the 2011 and 2010 Ironman World Champions and a special Mike Reilly ("The Voice of Ironman") tribute piece.

Reserve your copy of the DVD now.

Japan